Coaling gate



April 29, 1941. c. P. ROSS COALING GATE Filed April 20, 1939 2Sheets-Sheet 1 I Clydeffiw mmzmwm J J April 29, 1941. 4 c. P. ROSS2,240,350

COALING GATE Filed April 20, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 29,1941 COALIN G GATE Clyde P. Ross, Kenilworth, 111., assignor to Ross andWhite Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois ApplicationApril 20, 1939, Serial No. 268,87

4 Claims. ((31.221-144) This invention relates to delivery or dischargechutes and controlling means therefor, and has to do with what is knownas coaling gatesand analogous devices.

It is the common practice to coal locomotive tenders by delivering thecoal thereto from stor age bins, through delivery or discharge chutes.The chutes are provided with control gates, and a chute, together withits control gate means, is commonly termed a coaling gate. In thecoaling gates commonly used for coaling locomotive tenders, so far as Iknow, it is the universal practice to provide an operating member whichis operated by the hostler or fireman, such operating member, whensubjected to downward pull, being eifective for opening the chute fordischarge of coal, and, when moved upwardly, serving to close the chuteagainst the discharge of coal. The chute has associated therewith amovtors who have fallen into tenders have been buried by the coal andhave been either smothered to death or have died as a result of theinjuries received. When an operator slips, he instinctively grasps thenearest obstacle for support, which is the operating member forcontrolling the chute gate. Since in the coaling gates now in use thegates are opened by pulling downon the control member, by grasping thismember when falling the operator opens the chute gates, if they areclosed, or, if they are open, maintains them in that position, with theresult that the coal continues to flow from the chute and the apron intothe tender, with the possibility of resulting serious injury to theoperator.

The primary object of the present invention is to avoid the risk ofinjury to operators, in the event they slip or fall into the tenderduring the coaling operation, by providing a coalinggate of suchcharacter that downward movement or pull on the operating member, whichcontrols the discharge of coal through the chute, is effective forclosing the chute and shutting ofi the flow of coal. More specifically,I provide an operating rod which depends in position readily accessibleI of the rod is effective for opening the gate and downward movementofthe rod causes closing of the gate. The gate control and operatingmeans of my invention is particularly suitable for use with what I terma side-cut coaling gate, in which the gates move into and out of thechute through the sides thereof, and I shall illustrate my invention, byway of example, as applied to a coaling gate of the character referredto.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from thedetailed description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view, with parts broken away and in section, of acoaling gate embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the coaling gate of Figure 1,'on a reducedscale, with certain parts broken away and other parts shownfragmentarily and insection, this view also showing a distributing apronassociated with the coaling gate; and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a modified form of coaling gateembodying my invention,

certain parts being partly broken away and shown in section.

I have illustrated my present invention as applied to a chute providedwith side cut gates, of the same general construction as that disclosedin the Reissue Patent No. 16,633, issued May 24,

1927, to Edwin A. Titus, for Coal chute gate, and

a brief description of the construction of the chute and the gates willsuflice. I provide a chute 5, generally cubiform, including an angleiron frame 6, which comprises two angle members I bolted or otherwisesuitably secured to wall 8 of a storage pocket or bin B. Wall 8 isprovided with a downwardly inclined discharge opening 9, and chute 5 isprovided with a bottom plate l9 forming a continuation of the lower wallof opening 9. Adjacent wall 8, chute 5 is provided with side plates IIand a downwardly and outwardly inclined top or cover plate ill, theforward portion of which, designated I2a, tapers in width toward theouter or front end of the chute, being of substantially V shape in plan.Baille plates I3 are secured to the inner faces of plates H and extendinward and forward therefrom, for a purpose which will be explainedpresently. The

plates constitute, with the upper portion of bytwo-gates l4, eachcomprising an arcuate plate-l5 secured, at its inner end portion, to themovement about a horizontal axis, apron 3! being pivoted to bracket 32,at the midlength thereof, for movement about an axis perpendicular tobracket 32, by means of a pivot bolt 34 and associated elements. Theapron is thus mounted for both vertical and horizontal movements fordistributing the coal as it is delivered from the apron into the tender,it being understood that the upper end portion of the apron is ofsufficiently greater width than the lower end of the chute to permit ofappropriate horior plate I6 is welded or otherwise suitably secured tosleeve is. The gate plates arcuate in plan and concentric with the hingerods 18, being thus mounted for movement toward and away from eachother" transversely of the chute, the forward ends of bafiles l3extending to within a short distance ofthe rearward faces of plates I5,so as to prevent escape of coal between the gates and the side walls orplates II at the rearward portion of the chute. In Figure 1, the gatesare shown in their closed positions, preventing discharge of coalthrough the chute. The forward portion of the top or cover plate,designated l2a. in Figure 2, is of substantially V-sh'ape in plan, asabove stated, and extends above the upper edges of the plates l5 toprevent escape of coal thereover. With the gates in closed position, thesides of the chute below the gates are open, and when the gates aremoved into open position, indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1, theside plates l6 serve as plates for closing the sides "of the chute, and,together with the bottom plate l0, directing the coal through the chuteat the lower or forward.

end thereof.

An arm 29, of channel cross-section for the major portion of its lengthand bifurcated at its inner portion, is suitablysecured, as by Welding,

to each of the sleeves l9 at the upper portion An inclined brace 2| iswelded at its thereof. outer end to each of the arms 20, the inner endof this brace being welded to the corresponding side plate 16 of gatel4. A'link 22 is pivoted at its outer end, at 23, to the inner end ofeach An angle bracket 24 seats upon the arm 26. inner end portion ofeach link 22, with its lower flange pivoted at'25 to the link formovement about a substantially vertical axis. The upwardly extendingflanges of the angle brackets 24 are disposed at opposite sides of anoperating lever 26, to which they are pivoted at 24a for movement aboutan axis perpendicular to the axes of the pivots 26. Lever 26 is secured,at its lower rearward end, on an operating shaft 2'I extendingtransversely of the chute above the gates, this shaft being rockablymounted in hearing members 28 suitably secured to the chute frame 6.Lever-26 extends upwardly and forwardly from shaft 21, when the gatesare closed, and then projects beyond the lower or forward end of chute5, as shown in Figure 2. An operating rod 29 is pivotally attached tothe upper end of lever 26 and depends therefrom in position readilyaccessible to the operator. Counterweights 39 are suitably secured onshaft 21,,at

the ends thereof, and tend to turn the shaft in counterclockwisedirection, as viewed in Figure 2. 7 An apron 3|, which may be ofgenerally known construction, is mounted at the forward end of the chutefor receiving coal discharged therefrom and directing the'coal into thelocomotive tender or other receptacle. This apron is supmeans of anelongated U-f-shaped bracket- 32 pivoted at each end, at 33, 'tothe,chuteiframefi for T zontal movement of the apron in either direction.Suitable stays 35 may be attached to the lower or forward end of theapron for supporting it, these stays being appropriately connected tocounterweights or other suitable means (not shown) to assist insupporting the apron and in moving it from lowered to raised position,and

vice Versa. At its forward end apron 3| is provided with a transversehandle or bail 36, for convenience in moving the apron horizontally asdesired, and the operating rod 29 normally rests upon this bail. Whenthe chute gates are closed and the apron is in its raised position,indicated by the dot and dash lines in Figure 2, the operating rod 29occupies the position indicated by the dot and dash lines,

When it is desired to coal a locomotive tender,

'the apron 3| is lowered into its full line position shown in Figure 2,lever 26 and operating rod 29 then occupying the full line positionsshown, with the chute gates closed. In order to open the chute gates,the operating rod 29 is pushed upwardly and rearwardly of the chute soas to move the operating lever 26 into its dotted line position,operating rod 29 then occupying the dotted line position shown. In itslatter position, the lower end portion of the operating rod 29 is sodisposed as to be grasped readily by the hostler or operator for closingthe gates. In the event that the operator should slip or fall,he'instinctively grasps the operating rod 29 and exerts a downward pullupon the latter, effective for moving the operating lever 26 shown inFigure 2, serves to turn the operating shaft 2'! in counterclockwisedirection, with the assistance of the counterweights 30, and to turnthesleeves l9 in counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1, thusmoving the gates M from their closed position, shown in full lines, intotheir open position, indicated in dotted lines. On theother hand,movement of the lever 26 from its dotted line position into its fullline position of Figure 2 turns shaft 2'! clockwise and moves the gatesl4 to their closed position, for shutting off flow of coal through thechute. It will thus be seen that upward movement of the operating rod 29serves to open the gates, and downward movement of this rod serves toclose the gates, so that an operator in falling, if he grasps the rod29, as he instinctively will do, closes the chute gates, thuseliminating danger of serious injury to the operator by continueddischarge of coal through the chute.

In the modified form of coaling gate shown in Figure 3, a lever 26a issecured on shaft 21 adjacent one end thereof, there being an arm 26bsecured on shaft 21 at about the midlength thereof, to which latter armthe links 22 are connected in the same manner as in Figures 1 and 2;Lever: 26aof Figure 3 corresponds to lever 26 of Figure 2, and operatingrod 23 is connected to the upper end of lever 25a in the same manner asit is connected to the upper end of lever 26. The chute of Figure 3 isprovided with a cover plate I212 having a forwardly tapering extensionl2c of substantially V shape in plan, suitably formed or notched toaccommodate the arm 2% and associated parts. In all other respects, theconstruction and operation of the form of coaling gate shown in Figure 3are substantially the same as in the form of coaling gate shown inFigures 1 and 2, and need not be described in further detail In bothforms of my invention illustrated, the counterweights 3D tend to turnthe operating shaft 21 in gate opening direction, to assist inovercoming the resistance to opening of the gates offered by the coalpressing upon the plates I5, this pressure of the coal serving, inconjunction with the lever 26 or 26a and the operating rod 29, tendingto turn the shaft 21 in gate closing direction, to maintain the gates inclosed position.

While I have illustrated and described my invention as applied to acoaling gate, for which it is particularly suitable in certain aspects,it may be used to advantage for other purposes. Changes in constructionand arrangement of parts of my invention may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the field and scope thereof, and I intend to include allsuch variations, as fall within the scope of the appended claims, inthis application in which the preferred forms only of my invention havebeen disclosed.

I claim:

1. In combination, a downwardly inclined generally cubiform dischargechute, a pair of gates pivoted for movement toward and away from eachother transversely of the bottom wall of said chute about axessubstantially perpendicular to said wall, an operating shaft rockablymounted on said chute extending over said gates transversely of andsubstantially parallel to said bottom wall, said shaft being disposedadjacent and in rear of the pivot axes of said gates and extendinglaterally of said chute therebeyond, operating means providing an armand an operat: ing lever fixed on said shaft and extending upward andforward therefrom when said gates are closed, operating arms disposedabove and secured to said gates at the pivot axes of the latterextending therefrom inward of said chute transversely thereof, linkspivoted to the inner ends of said arms and to said arm fixed to saidshaft, for opening and closing said gates responsive to upward anddownward movement of said lever,

an operating rod depending from the upper end rockably mounted on saidchute transversely thereof over said gates adjacent and in rear of saidsleeves and projecting outward beyond the sides of said chute, anoperating lever secured on said shaft extending upward and forwardtherefrom when said gates are closed, arms secured to said sleeves abovesaid gates extending inwardly of. said chute, links pivoted to the innerends of said arms and to said lever above said shaft, an operatingmember depending from the forward end of said lever, and counterweightmeans secured on the projecting portion of said shaft disposed to clearsaid gates and urging said shaft in gate opening direction.

3. In combination, a downwardly inclined generally cubiform dischargechute, a pair of gates ivoted for movement toward and away from eachother transversely of the bottom wall of said chute about axessubstantially perpendicular to said wall, an operating shaft rockablymounted on said chute transversely thereof over said gates adjacent andin rear of said pivot axes and projecting outward beyond the sides ofsaid chute, operating means providing an arm and an operating leversecured to said shaft extending upward and forward therefrom when saidgates are closed, operating arms disposed above and secured to saidgates at the pivot axes of the latter extend-ing therefrom inwardly ofsaid chute, links pivoted at their forward ends to the inner ends ofsaid arms, means connecting the rearward ends of said links to said armsecured on said shaft above the latter for pivotal movement aboutsubstantially vertical and horizontal axes, an operating rod dependingfrom the upper end of said lever, and counterweight means on theprojecting portion of said shaft disposed to clear said gates and urgingsaid shaft in gate opening direction.

4. In combination, a downwardly inclined generally cubiform dischargechute, a pair of sleeves pivoted adjacent the lower corners of saidchute for movement about axes substantially perpendicular to the bottomwall of said chute, a pair of gates each comprising a side plate securedat its forward end to one of said sleeves and a gate plate secured atits inner end to the rearward end of said side plate and disposedsubstantially transversely of said bottom wall, an operating shaftrockably mounted on said chute transversely thereof over said gatesadjacent and in rear of said sleeves and projecting outward beyond thesides of said chute, operating means providing an arm and an operatinglever secured to said shaft extending upward and forward therefrom whensaid gates are closed, operating arms secured to said sleeves above saidside plates extending inward of said chute, braces connecting saidoperating arms to said side plates remote from said sleeves, linkspivoted to the inner ends of said arms and to said arm of said operatingmeans, an operating rod depending from the upper end of said lever, andcounterweight means on the projecting portion of said shaft disposed toclear said gates and urging said shaft in gate opening direction.

CLYDE P. ROSS.

